No merger with Etihad planned, says Emirates chairman

There is no alliance in the cards for the UAE’s two biggest carriers, Etihad Airways and Emirates, a top official said.

Emirates Airline chairman Sheikh Ahmed told CEO Middle East that “there is nothing like that [alliance],” according to a report in Arabian Business on Monday.

“There is always a lot of rumor, people will try and put things together,” he said.

“People have the right to say what they think but the problem is sometimes they believe it themselves. They come up with something and they believe it that it is happening. There is no such plan,” he added.

The sheikh also slammed reports that the airline may go public: “Ruled out? It was never ruled in. It’s an idea people made up.”

He added: “A lot of reporters usually push that story. Anything is possible. If you want to do an IPO you have to find the right time and price but it is not something on my desk.”